Gun reloader



Dec. 11, 1956 w. R. WEE-Ks 2,773,425

GUN RELOADER Filed July 19,'*1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 QN Q s, :K e N Wm O M a. t nR. h Nw QS wv ,I A N o Tf y f 1 Q m .mll uw hb n@ W His Attorneg..

Dec. 11, 1956 w. R. WEI-:Ks 2,773,425

GUN RELOADER Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l-ls Attorneg.

lill H 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. R. WEEKS GUN RELOADER Dec. 11, 1956 Filed July 19, 1945- Inventor: Walter` R. Weeks,

His Attorheg.

Dec. 11, 1956 w. R. WEEKS I 2,773,425

GUN RELOADER Filed July 19, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 76 77 75 74 72 Fig l5.

M IIIIII- L limi-LL inventor: Waiter` R. WeeksJ` bww His Attofeg.

United States Patent 4O GUN RELQADER Walter R. Weeks, Hamden, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 605,971

10 Claims. (Cl. 89-1) My invention relates to gun reloaders, more particularly to driving means for operating an automatic gun when the gun fails to tire, thereby to reload the gun, and has for its object simple, compact, and reliable gun reloader mechanism.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide an electric driving motor for operating the gun mechanism. This electric motor turns a screw shaft operating a traveling nut which moves the reciprocating bolt of the gun to reload the gun.

I have shown my invention as applied to automatic guns of the type in which the bolt of the gun normally when the gun is not iired is in .a gun-unloaded position, but when the gun fails to fire the bolt is in a gun-loaded position.

For the control of the electric driving motor, I provide two double-throw switches, each of which is biased normally to a predetermined position, together with a solenoid controlled by a trigger switch for controlling one of these switches, and also for operating latch means to release the bolt of the gun for normal iiring operation. When the gun fails to fire and the solenoid is deenergized by the opening of the trigger switch, one of the switches is operated to start the motor and, when the bolt of the gun reaches its iirst position, this switch is allowed to operate in accordance with its bias to close a reversing circuit for the motor through the other switch. The motor then operates to return the screw to its starting position whereupon thev second switch is operated against its bias to deenergize the motor and establish a circuit for the solenoid which can be completed by closure of the trigger switch.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 of which is a sectional view of a gun and a reloader embodying my invention with the reloader parts in'their normal positions for iiring of the gun, and gun loaded and about to lire; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l but showing the gun loading mechanism retracted towards its extreme left hand position where it is latched but without the entire reloading operation completed; Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the operation of the reloader completed and the gun in a condition ready for ring; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the reloader mechanism in an early stage of the operation of the reloader; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing an intermediate stage in the operation of the reloader with the gun mechanism retracted as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 showing the parts in their relative positions for the complete reloading operation as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the traveling nut of the reloader; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section with the gun cover and rotating parts of the reloader removed; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section looking upward at the motor end of the reloader mounted in the gun cover; Fig. 10 is an enlarged frag- Patented Dec. 11, 1956 ICC mentary view in section taken along the line 19-10 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 11'-11 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 12 is an enlarged view partly in section showing details of construction; Fig. 13 is a diagram of connections showing the circuit conditions while -the gun is tiring and the reloader not in operation; Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 13 showing lconditions immediately after the starting of `the reloader 'to reload the gun, the reloader parts then being in the relative position shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the circuit conditions during the last phase of the reloader operation, while Figs. 16 and 17 are views showing details of the traveling nut.

I have shown my invention in one form as applied to an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating loading member or bolt 1 which is connected at its right hand end to a bolrt head 2. It will be understood that the gun forms no part of my invention, and it w'ill be described herein only to the extent required for a clear understanding of the reloader. As shown in Fig. 1 the parts 1 and 2 are in their loaded gun positions with the bolt head 2 rotated through a part revolution to lock it in position. The bolt lis moved toward the right by means of helical spring 3 mounted in an elongated tubular metal gun cover 4 provided with a longitudinal slot or opening in its lower side. The lett hand end of the spring 3 bears against the support 5 while its right hand end extends into a tubular operating member or sleeve 6 slidable in a tubular cam member 7 which in turn is rotatable in the cover 4. At its right h-and end the spring 3 bears against an inner shoulder in the sleeve 6 and at its left hand end the sleeve 6 has a downwardly extending stud 8 which extends slidably into an aperture pro? Vstationary part 14. Only one of these cam surfaces 15 is shown, this surface 1S being engaged by the roller 13 on the opposite side from the one shown. This engagement between the rollers 13 and the stationary cam surfaces rotates the bolt head through a part revolution Awhereby it is released from the barrel extension 11 and moves toward the left with bolt 1. A connection 16 is provided between the bolt 1 and the bolt head 2, whereby fthe two are caused to move together and also whereby when the bolt 1 is moved by the reloader mechanism toward the left hand after failure of the gun to lire, as will be described hereinafter, the bolt head is turned by means of the connection 16 to release it from the barrel extension 11.

The bolt 1 and bolt head 2 are thrown by the recoil force ,tow'ard the leiit hand until the left hand end of bolt 1 engages a stop 17 which is held in the position shown by a very strong spiral spring 18, the spring yielding to absorb some of the force of the moving parts. The bolt and bolt head move back far enough to eject the then empty shell 19 which is grasped by the bolt head and pulled out of the gun barrel until just before the bolt head reaches the in'al left hand position shown in Fig.

2, the shell is released and forced downward into the tubular member is rotated and a gear 22 on it moves a rack 23 crosswise of the tubular member 7 thereby to move another cartridge into position just below the rack 23 and below the guide 24 so that its left hand end is engaged by the bolt head when the bolt head moves back to the right to a firing position by the force applied by the spring 3 plus the bounce force of the spring 18. When the bolt head reaches its final position toward the right hand as shown in Fig. l, the bolt 1 continues to move for a short distance toward the right whereby two cams 25, only one of which is shown, on the right hand end of the bolt engage the rollers 13 and turn the bolt head 2 throughout part of a revolution to lock it in position. After the bolt head is locked in position a slight additional movement toward the right of the bolt forces the firing pin 26 which is secured to the bolt against the percussion cap in the center of the cartridge whereby the cartridge is exploded. The operation previously described is then repeated.

This automatic ring of the gun continues as long as a sear arm 27 carrying a latch roller 28 is held in a depressed position as shown in Fig. 1. When this sear arm is turned clockwise slightly about its pivot shaft 29 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the bolt 1 is secured thereby in anunloaded position as shown in Fig. 2 to discontinue tiring operation. It will be noted, that the bolt has a cam member 30 at its lower side which engages the roller 28 and depresses the roller out of its path when the bolt is moving toward the left whereby the roller 23 is forced by the spring 31 upward to engage the right hand end of the cam 30.

Referring to Fig. 12 the latching face 32 of the cam 30 is arranged at such an anglethat the force applied by it to the roller 2S is in line with a line passing through the center of the roller and the center of the pivot pin 29 or in other words the face of the cam is normal to this line. It will be noted that also mounted on the pivot 29 is a stop arm 33 whose right hand end engages the stationary support 34 and whose other endV is provided with an arcuate surface 35 fitting the roller 28. Actually as shown in Fig. 8, the arm 27 consists of two identical arms between which is mounted the roller 28 while the stop arm 33 is mounted betweenl the two arms 27. Preferably the roller fits loosely in its axial pivot pin 28a. The surface 35 is arcuate below a line joining the centers of the roller 28 and the pivot 29- so that a force on the roller 28 is applied to the stop 33- in a direction passing through the center of the pivot 29. whereby theforce does not tend to rotate the stop 33 downward. The spring 31 has its upper end restingagainst the left end of the stop 33 so as to tend to move it upward with the right hand end of the stop 33 resting against the support 34;

It should be noted that the gun cover 4, in which is mounted the reloader mechanism, is pivoted at its right hand end on a pivot pin 36 securedl to the gun while its left hand end carries a pivoted latch 37 which engages with a stationary member 38 so as to hold'the right hand end of the gun cover secured in place. This latch 37 is secured on a shaft 39 (Fig. 9) extending through the cover and having a handle 40 on one end by means of which the shaft may be turned to release latch 37, whereupon the cover 4 and the mechanism contained in it can be moved clockwise about the pivot 36, thereby to give access to the mechanism beneath.

In accordance with my invention I provide mechanism for moving the sleeve 6 and the stud 8 toward the left to reload the gun in the event a cartridge fails to lire, comprising an electric motor 41 mounted on the cover 4 and connected through a splinedconnection 42 (Fig.y 4) to a shaft 43 whose left hand end is mounted on a ball bearing 44. More particularly the shaft 43 extends into a sleeve 45 and has an enlarged portion- 46 at its left hand end slideably fitting in thesleeve, theleft: hand end of` the,v sleeve 45 being secured to asleeyeA?, whichY in.

turn is slideably supported in the inner ring of the ball bearing 44.

Secured in the right hand end of the sleeve 45 is a nut 48, through which extends a threaded end of a shaft 49, the right hand portion of which, 50, constitutes a lead screw. A pin 51 extends through the sleeve 45, the nut 48 and the shaft 49, thereby securing these parts together. The right hand end of the shaft 43 is reduced in size and extends into an axial hole 52 in the left hand end of the shaft 49, whereby the two are secured in alignment.

A friction clutch drive is provided between the shaft 43 and the sleeve 45 consisting of a helical spring 53 whose left hand portion normally grips the shaft 43 and whose right hand portion is enlarged and grips in the inner surface of the sleeve 45. The spring 53 is wound in such a direction that clockwise rotation of the shaft 43, looking from the left to the right, tends to unwind the left hand portion of the spring from the shaft 43 and also unwinds the right handportion thereby causing it to grip more firmly the inner surface of the sleeve 45. This provides a predetermined friction between the spring and the shaft 43 for the transmission of a predetermined driving torque while slippage occurs when that torque is exceeded; For reverse rotation of the motor and the. shaft 43. the opposite effect occurs whereby a predetermined driving force is provided between the spring 53 and the sleeve 45. This slippage provides for overtravel of the motor, which is preferably a very high speed one, in either direction after the driven parts reach their limit of travel.

The screw portion 50 of the drive shaft extends through a travelling nut 54 which is mounted against rotation in a tubular member 55 having a shoulder 56 engaging the end of the sleeve 6, when the sleeve 6 isv in its extreme right hand position as shown in Fig. 1. When the motor operates in a clockwise direction as viewed from left to right the nut 54. travels toward the left hand whereby the sleeve 6 is moved to the left to reload the gun.

As shown, the drive screw 50 extends axially through the gun operating spring 3, while surrounding it and inside the spring is ay stationary tube 57 having its left hand end secured to the stationary support 5. Throughout the greater part of its length at its right hand end this tube 57. is provided with two slots 57a and 57b (Fig. 7) respectively in its upper and lower sides extending longitudinally while the tubular member 55 is provided with upper and lower wings or projections 55a and 55b which are slidably movable between the side walls of the slots whereby rotation of the traveling nut 54 is prevented. A helical spring 58 is provided in the tubular member 55, which spring bears against the nut 54 and by means of which shocks applied to the nut are cushioned by the nut sliding toward the left in the tubular member. Such cushioning occurs for example in the event that the bolt 1 is released before the nut 54- reaches its extreme right handv position whereby the sleeve 6 would be thrown against the flange 56 on the member 55.

During automatic tiring operation of the gun as shown in Fig. 1, the firing solenoid 60 is maintained energized by closure of a trigger switch 61', Fig. 13. The plunger armature 60a of the coil 60 when in its attracted position of Fig. l holds the lower end of a lever 60b pivoted on the armature and having its upper end pivoted on a pin 62 in a left hand position thereby pulling a link bar 63' toward the left handv whereby the sear arm 27 and a telltale arm 64 are turned counterclockwise to their depressed positionsY shown in Fig. l. Referring to Fig. l2, the arms 27 and 64 are connected to the bar 63' by means of pins 65 and 66-extending through slots in the bar forming loose connections. When the armature of the coil is moved to its fully attracted position as shown in Fig. l, the righty handl Wall of the slot 67 for the pin 66l engages the. pin therebyto rotate the sear arm 27 counterclockwise. Clearance for thsmovement offthearm 6'4Jisprovided by a slot in the bar 63-for the pin.65. When the trigger switch 61 is open the arms 27 and 64 are turned clockwise by the springs 31 and 80 to their normal positions shown in Figs. 2 and 12 whereupon the roller 28 engages and holds the bolt 1 as previously described.

Referring to Fig. 13, this tiring circuit for the solenoid 60 is traced over one side of the battery 70 through a master switch 70a the trigger switch 61, a single pole, double throw control switch 71, and then through the coil 60 to a ground connection on the support 34 to which the opposite side of the battery 70 is connected.

At this time the switch 71 is held in its closed position as indicated in Fig. 13 by an operating arm 72 which holds the operating button 73 of the switch depressed. The operating arm 72 is under these conditions held depressed in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 74 by means of the sleeve or collar 47 as shown in Fig. 6. The arm 72 is provided with an auxiliary operating part 76 which is pivotally mounted at the point 77 on the arm 72 and connected to the arm 72 through a compression spring 78 to provide for overtravel of the auxiliary part 76 after the button 73 has been completely depressed.

The switch 71 is preferably of the type described and claimed in U. S. Patent 2,332,911, issued on October 26, 1943, to George M. Hauser. When the button 73 is depressed the bridging switch member 79, Fig. 13, springs upward thereby to electrically connect together the upper pair of contacts. When the button is released it is moved upward by a spring, not shown, whereby the bridging member 79 is caused to snap downward and close the circuit between the lower pair of contacts.

In the event that the gun fails to tire, for example because of a defective cartridge, the bolt 1 and the bolt head 2 remain in their firing positions shown in Fig. 1 and the reloading mechanism does not operate as long as the trigger switch 61 is held closed. When this switch 61 is opened by release of the trigger, the coil 60 is deenergized whereupon the link bar 63 is moved back by a spring S to its extreme right-hand position as shown in Fig. 14. The spring 80 preferably is applied to the telltale lever 64 as shown in Fig. 12.

In this position of the link bar 63 a cam 81 on its righthand end engages and depresses an operating button 82 for a switch 83 shown also in Figs. l, 2 and 8 and similar in construction to the switch 71 whereby the bridging member of the switch is snapped upward to close a circuit between its upper pair of contacts as shown in Fig. 14. This closes the circuit for the electric motor 41 leading from the battery 70 through the master switch 70a, the switch 83, a series eld coil S4 and the armature 8S of the motor to ground. The motor thereupon starts and turns the screw shaft 5) in a clockwise direction looking from the left toward the right of Fig. 4, thereby moving the traveling nut 54 toward the left. The nut carries with it the sleeve 6 and the bolt 1 to which the sleeve is connected by the stud S and the drive projection 9 on the bolt, whereby the bolt 1 is moved to its extreme lefthand position into engagement with the stop 17 whereupon it moves a short distance to the right and is secured by the latch roller 28, assuming that the trigger switch 61 is still open. This operation by the motor serves to eject the defective cartridge and bring a fresh cartridge into a reloading position.

This reloading operation of the motor at the same time releases the switch operating lever 72, whereupon the switch 71 operates to close a circuit across the lower pair of its contacts. The operation of the switch 71 takes place during the first one or more revolutions of the motor, whereby the tube 45 and the collar 47 are moved to the right into engagement with the inner ring of the bearing 44, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In other words, the motor, when it moves the nut 54 to its extreme righthand position shown in Fig. 6 againstv the stop orabutment 86, continues its rotation through one or more revoswitch 71 to the position shown in Fig. 13 for deenergization of the motor. This lefthand movement of the screw shaft 50 is provided for by the splined connection 42, and is stopped by engagement of a stop iange 86a secured to the end of the shaft 50 with a rubber stop washer 86h.

Preferably, this friction clutch formed by the helical spring 53 has two slip values, one when the shaft suddenly stops with the nut in its righthand position, and the other in the event that the mechanism jams during a power stroke when the nut is moving toward the left. The principal function of the clutch is to provide for the sudden stopping of the screw shaft without at the same time suddenly stopping the motor armature which continues to turn because of its stored up inertia force as permitted by the slipping of the spring. For clockwise rotation of the motor shaft, looking from the left toward the right, the spring 53 tends to unwind from the shaft 43 until slippage occurs at the predetermined minimum torque While, at the same time the unwinding of the large end causes that end to grip more firmly the inner surface of the sleeve 45. For reverse rotation of the motor the enlarged end of the spring slips in the sleeve 45 at the predetermined minimum torque. The values of the slippage torques are about percent of the motor output torque in each direction of rotation.

Therefore, when the motor completes the initial gun reloading operation as shown in Fig. 5, the switch 71 closes the circuit between its lower pair of contacts, as shown in Fig. 14, in preparation for the energization of the secondmotor series field winding S7 for reverse operation of the motor and return of the nut 54 to its extreme righthand position. Before this reverse circuit for the motor can be completed, however, the switch 83 must be operated to close the circuit between its lower pair of contacts, as indicated in Fig. l5. This is eected by means of the tell-tale arm 64 which is turned through a small angle in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, by engagement of the cam 30 with its upper end. rl`he arm 64 moves with it toward the left the link bar 63 to the intermediate position indicated in Fig. 15 in which the cam S1 has moved away from the button 82 of the switch 83 and the switch thereupon closes the circuit between its lower pair of contacts. Movement of the link to this position independently of the sear arm 27 is provided by the slot 67, Fig. 12. This closes the motor circuit for reverse rotation, the circuit leading from the battery through the switch 83, the switch 71, the eld winding S7, and the armature 85 of the motor 41 to ground.

The motor thereupon immediately reverses and drives the nut 54 back to its extreme righthand position shown in Fig. 6 until finally the motor is stopped by the operation of the switch 71 4to its position shown in Fig. 13 by movement of the collar 47 to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The gun may now be tired by closing the trigger switch 61 for energization of the solenoid 60 which then moves the link bar 63 to its eXtreme lef-thand position, as shown in Fig. l, whereby the roller 28 is moved downward to release the bolt 1.

if the trigger switch 61 is held closed during the reloading operation of the motor the circuit of the solenoid 60 is completed by the operation of the switch 71 when the motor is stopped, whereupon the gun immediately tires.

As shown in Fig. 10, the electric connections for the driving motor 41 are established by means of three pairs of butt contacts comprising three movable contacts 99 mounted on the lower side of the motor, as viewed in Fig. 1, with which cooperate stationary contacts 91 mounted on the upper side of the gun. When the gun cover with its reloading mechanism is released by turning the lever 40 (Fig. 9) and' then tilted upward about its pivot 36 (Fig. 1) the contacts 90 and 91 are separated. Moreover the energization of the solenoid for firing of the gun is prevented when the cover is raised because the switch 71 mounted on the gun thereby is released and moves to its biased position of Fig. 14.

As previously noted, a high speed motor 41 is preferably used for reducing the size and Weight of the reload ing driving mechanism. The motor 41, for example, may have an operating speed of 12,000 R.'P. M. which it attains after a few revolutions. For the purpose of reducing the friction driving load on the motor l construct the nut 54 with balls 92:1, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The balls travel in a helical raceway formed between the threads in the nut and the threads on the shaft Si? and move continuously out of the nut at one end, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft, then through a passageway 92 diagonally to the opposite end of the nut where they move back in. Holes 93 and 94 tangential with the threads connect the interior of the nut with the passageway 92. Preferably, a short helix of wire 9S and 96 having a diameter somewhat smaller than the ball bearings is brazed in the groove at each end at the nut just beyond the openings 93 and 94, the end of the wire adjacent each opening being beveled so as to foi-m a guide for the balls. With this construction I have reduced the friction to such an extent that with a screw shaft having a thread with the relatively small pitch indicated by the shaft 50, the nut moves downward on the thread by its own weight when the screw shaft is held in vertical position.

Preferably the nut itself is formed by drilling and tapping a piece of bar stock material. The pieces of wire .95 and 96 which constitute about one turn, are inserted 1n the opposite ends of the nut and copper brazed in place. Next, a flat surface 97 is formed on the outside of the nut and the two holes 93 and 94 for passage of the balls are drilled diagonally opposite each other to intersect the groove between the threads at each end of the nut tangentially with respect to the groove. The holes are preferably drilled through the inner ends of the wires 95 and 96 whereby the inner ends of the wires are suitably beveled to act as guides for the balls.

The passageway 92 is formed by means of a groove struck in a iiat metal plate 98 which tits on the fiat surface 97 and is held in place by screws extending into the tapped holes 99 and 100. Small positioning depressions 100 and 102 are formed in the surface 97 to receive positioning pins formed on the plate 9S.

Another feature whereby the friction of the part is reduced is the provision of the latch roller 28 whereby a much smaller operating coil 60 can be used to operate the link bar 63 and move the roller 28 to yrelease the bolt 1.

It will be noted that the electric connections provide a double interlock system wherein the gun cannot be fired while the reloader motor is operating, because the switch 71 is moved to the position of Fig. 13 only upon the completion of the reloader operation, and wherein the reloading mechanism cannot operate while the gun is being tired for the reason that the trigger switch 61 must be opened after malfunction of the gun or ymistiring in order to start the reloading mechanism. The reloader always operates the gun, when necessary, to get `the gun back in a ready-tore condition whenever the trigger switch is opened. Likewise, the reloading operation by the reloader does nct take place after a lmalfunction of the gun until the tiring operation is terminated by the opening of `the trigger switch.

The complete reloader motor and drivin-g mechanism including the parts 3, 5, 54, 57 and parts mounted therein can be moved endwise to the left as seen in Fig. 1 for removal from the gun cover by depression ofthe locking pin 103'.

It w-ill be observedthat when the gun isA firing noV wear occurs on the parts of the reloader mechanism. Atthat time the telltale arm 64 is held depressed by thesolenoid 60 out of the path of the bolt 1 as shown in Fig. 1. This telltale arm 64 reports the condition of the gun tothe reloader each time tiring is stopped by `the opening of the trigger switch. If the bolt 1 is no-t then latchedv in its letthand position and the telltale arm thereby depressed to permit the switch 83 to move to its lowermost biased `position of Fig. 15, the motor is started to reload the gun.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood of course, that I do not wish to ybe limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifica-tions as fall within thev true spirit and scope of my invention.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating bolt, said reloader comprising a reciprocating member, an electric motor connected to move said reciprocating member, means arranged to connect said reciprocating member to the bolt of the gun, a sea-r inember biased to a position in which said sear mechanism is adap-ted to secure the bolt of the gun in a tirst gun-unloaded position, a solenoid for moving said sear member to a bolt released position, :a tiring switch, a iirst doublethrow switch operated by said reciprocating member upon movement of said reciprocating member to a predetermined starting position to close a circuit through said solenoid in series with said tiring switch `and operated by movement of said reciprocating member from said star-ting position to close a circuit for reverse operation of said moto-r, a second double-throw switch, connections connecting said second double-throw switch in forward and reverse operation circuits for said motor, means operated upon the deenergization of said solenoid for `operating said second double-throw svidtch for forward operation of said motor and movement of said reciprocating member in one direction adapted to move the bolt of the gun to its said first position, and means arranged to be engaged by the bolt of the gun when the bolt i-s moved to its sai-d first position for effect-ing the operation of said second double-throw switch to close a circuit in series with said rst doublethrow switch for reverse operation of said motor to move said reciprocating member back to said starting positionV whereupon said reciprocating member operates said first double-throw switch to deenergize said motor.

2. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating bolt, said reloader comprising a screw shaft, an electric motor connected to said shaft, a traveling nut on said shaft, means arranged to connect said nut to the bolt of the gun, a sear member biased to a position in. which said sear member is adapted to secure't-he bolt of the gun in a first gun-unloaded posit-ion, a solenoid for moving saidV scar member to a bolt released position, a tiring switch, fa iirst double-throw switch operated by said nut upon movement of said nut to a predetermined starting position to close a circuit through said solenoid in series with said tiring switch and. operated upon movement of said nut from said starting position to `close a circuit for' reverse operation of said motor, a second double-throw switch biased to close. a circuit in series with said first switchV for reverse operation of said motor, means operated upon the deenergization of said solenoid for openating said secon-d double-throw switch to energize said motor for forward operation and movement of said nut in a direction adapted to move the bolt of the gun to its first position, and means :arranged to be engaged by the bolt yof the gun whenthe bol-t is moved to its said rst position for. effecting. the operation of said second double-throw switch to its biased position for reverse operation of said motor to move said nut back to said starting position whereupon said nut operates said first double-throw switch to deenergize saidimotor.'

3. A reloacler for an automatic gun provided' withV areciprocating bolt, said reloader comprising a reciprocating member, an electric motor connected to move said reciprocating member, means arranged to connect said reciprocating member to the bolt of the gun, Sear means biased to a position in which said sear means is adapted -to secure the bolt of the gun in a first gun-unloaded position, a solenoid for operating said sear means to a bolt released position, two double-throw switches, connections for connecting a rst one of said double-throw switches selectively to close a circuit for said solenoid or for reverse rotation of said motor, connections connecting the second of said double-throw switches selectively to close a circuit for forward or reverse rotation of said motor, each of said double-throw switches being biased to a iirst position to close a circuit in series with the other double-throw switch for reverse rotation of said motor and each of said switches being movable rto a second position, a firing switch for energizing said solenoid for operation of said sear means to its said other position, a irst member biased to move said second double-throw switch to its said second position, a connection between said first member and said solenoid for moving said first member to release said second switch for movement to its first position when said solenoid is energized, means operated by movement of said reciprocating member to a predetermined starting position for operating said rst double-throw switch to its second position against its bias whereby said solenoid can be energized by closure of said tiring switch, and a telltale member connected to said first member arranged to be engaged and moved by the bolt of the gun when the bolt moves to its said first position for movement of said iirst member to release said second double-throw switch for movement to its biased position, whereby when said telltale member is not moved by the bolt and said solenoid is deenergized by the opening of said trigger switch said second double-throw switch is moved by said rst member for operation of said motor in a direction to move the bolt of the gun to its iirst position and said bolt moving said telltale member to effect movement of said second double-throw switch to its biased position thereby to close a circuit for reverse operation of said motor to return said reciprocating member to said starting position whereupon said first double-throw switch is moved to its second position to deenergize said motor.

4. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating bolt normally in a iirst gun-unloaded position when the gun is not being fired but remaining in a second gun-tiring position when the gun Vfails `to fire, said reloader comprising a screw shaft, an electric motor connected to said shaft, a traveling nut on said shaft, means arranged to connect said nut -to the bolt of the gun for reciprocating movement of the bolt, forward and reverse field windings for said motor, sear means biased to a position in which said sear means is adapted to secure the bolt of the gun in its iirst position, a solenoid for operating said sear means to a bolt released position, two double-throw switches, electric connections for connecting a first one of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for said solenoid and said reversing motor field winding, electric connections connecting the second of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for said field windings, each of said double-throw switches being biased to a first position to close a circuit in series with the other double-throw switch for said reversing motor field winding and each of said switches being movable Ito a second position, a trigger switch for energizing said solenoid for operation of said sear means to abolt released position, a first member biased to move said second doublethrow switch to its second position, a connection between said rst member and said solenoid for moving said first member to release said second double-throw switch for movement to its first position when said solenoid is energized, means operated by movement of said nut to a predetermined starting position for operating said rst double-throw switch to its second position against its bias whereby said solenoid can be energized by closure of said trigger switch, and a telltale member connected to said rst member arranged to be engaged and moved by the bolt of the gun when the bolt moves to its said first position for movement of said first member to release said second double-throw switch for movement lto its biased position, whereby when said telltale member is not moved by the bolt and said solenoidl is deenergized by the opening of the said trigger doublethrow switch said second switch is moved by said rst member for operation of said motor in a direction adapted to move the bolt of the gun to its first position and said bolt moving said telltale member to effect operation of said second double-throw switch to its biased position thereby to close a circui-t for said reversing motor iield winding for operation of said motor to return said nut to its said starting position whereupon said firs-t double-throw switch is moved to its second position to deenergize said motor.

5. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating bolt, said reloader comprising a reciprocating member, an electric motor connected to move said reciprocating member, means arranged lto connect said reciprocating member to the bolt of the gun, a sear member biased to a position in which said sear member is adapted to secure the bolt of the gun in a rst gun-unloaded position, a solenoid, a link bar connected to said solenoid and loosely connected to said sear member for operation of said sear member to a bolt released position when said solenoid is energized, two doublethrow switches, electric connections for connecting a first one of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for said solenoid and for reverse rotation of said motor, electric connections connecting the second of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for forward and reverse rotation of said motor, each of said double-throw switches being biased to a first position to close a circuit in series with the other double-throw switch for reverse rotation of said motor and each of said switches being movable to a second position, a firing switch in series with said rst double-throw switch for energizing said solenoid, cam means on said link bar for moving said second double-throw switch -to its said second position when said solenoid is deenergized, said second double-throw switch being released for movement to its first position in accordance with its bias when said link bar is moved by said solenoid, means yoperated by movement of said reciprocating member to a predetermined starting position for operating said first double-throw switch to its second position against its bias whereby said solenoid can be energized by closure of said firing switch, and a telltale arm connected to said link bar arranged to be engaged and moved by the bolt of the gun when the bolt moves to its iirst position thereby to move said link bar to an intermedia-te position to release said second double-throw switch without movement of said sear member, whereby when said telltale arm is not moved by the bolt and said solenoid is deenergized by the opening of said firing switch, said second double-throw switch is operated by said cam for forward operation of said motor to move said reciprocating member in a direction adapted to move Ithe bolt of the gun to its first position whereupon the bolt moves the said telltale arm is moved by the bolt to effect operation of said second double-throw switch to its first position for reverse operation of said motor to return said reciprocating member to its starting position and operation of said first double-throw switch to its second ,position to deenergize said motor.

6. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating bolt, said reloader comprising a screw shaft, an electric motor connected to said shaft, a traveling nut on said shaft, means arranged to connect said nut to the bolt of the gun, a pivoted sear arm biased to a position in which said sear member is adapted to secure the bolt of the gun in a first gun-unloaded position, a solenoid, a link bar connected to said solenoid and loosely connected to said Sear' arm for operation of said sear arm to a bolt released position when said solenoid is energized, two double-throw switches, electric connections for connecting a first one of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for said solenoid and for reverse rotation of said motor, electric connections connecting the second of said double-throw switches selectively to control circuits for forward and reverse rotation of said motor, each of said double-throw Switches being biased to a first position to close a circuit in series with the other double-throw switch for reverse rotation of said motor and each of said switches being movable to a second position, a ring switch in series with said rst double-throw switch for energizing said solenoid, cam means on said link bar for holding said second double-throw switch in its said second position when said solenoid is deenergized, said second double-throw switch being released for movement to its rst position in accordance with its bias when said link oar is moved by said solenoid, means operated by movement of said nut to a predetermined startingl position for operating said first double-throw switch to its second positionv against its bias whereby said solenoid can be energized by closure of said tiring switch, and a telltale arm connected to said link bar arranged to be engaged and moved by the bolt of the gun when the bolt moves to its first position thereby to move said link bar to an intermediate position to release said second double-throw switch for movement to its first position without movement of said' sear arm, whereby when said solenoid is deenergized by the opening of said ring double-throw switch, saidv second switch is operated by said cam for forward operation of said motor to move said nut in a direction to move the bolt of the gun to its first position and said telltale arm is moved by the bolt to effect operationof said second double-throw switch to its rst position for reverse operation of said motor to return said nut to its starting position and operation of said first double-throw switch to its second position to deenergize said motor.

7. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating loading member and a tubular gun cover having a stop in one end, said reloader comprising a tubular operating member arranged to slide in the gun cover and to be connected to the loading member of the gun, an electric motor arranged to be mounted in the other end of the gun cover, a screw shaft adapted to extend lengthwise of the gun cover through said operating member, a traveling nut on said shaft, a connection member providing an abutting connection between said nut and one end of said operating member, a slidable driving connection between one end of said screw shaft and said motor, said nut being normally in a starting position in which position said nut is adapted to engage the stop in one end of the cover thereby to effect movement of said screw shaft a predetermined distance longi tudinally toward said motor by continued rotation of said screw shaft in one direction by said motor, switching means for controlling the circuit of said motor, means operated by said longitudinal movement of said screw shaft for operating said switching means to deenergize said motor, and switching means for energizing saidv motor for operation of said screw shaft in the opposite direction for movement of said operating member byl said nut to move the loading member of the gun.

8. A reloader for' an automatic gun provided' with a reciprocating loading member and a tubular gun coverv having a stop in one end, said reloader comprising ay I2 tubular` operatingV member arranged to slide in the gun cover and to be connected to the loading member of the gun, an electric motor arranged to be mountedin theI other end of the gun cover, a screw shaft adapted to extend lengthwise of the gun cover through said operatingmember, a traveling nut on said shaft, a connection means providing a resilient abutting connection between said nut and one end of said operating member, a spring surrounding said screw shaft for biasing said operating member against said connection means, a splined driving connection between one end of said screw shaft and said motor, a stationary tubular member surrounding said` screw shaft and said connection means provided with a longitudinal slot, a projection on said connection means moving between the side walls of said slot thereby to prevent rotation of said nut, said nut being normally in a starting position in which position said nut is adapted to engage the stop in one end of the cover thereby to effect movement of said screw shaft a predetermined distance longitudinally toward said motor upon continued rotation of said screw shaft in one direction by said motor, switching means for controlling the circuit of said motor, means operated by said longitudinal movement of said screw shaft for operating said switch means to deenergize said motor, and switching means for energizing said motor for operation of said screw shaft in the opposite direction for movement of said operating member by said nut to move the loading member of the gun'. t

9. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating loading member, said reloader comprising a reciprocating operating member arranged to be connected to the reciprocating loading member, a screw shaft, a traveling nut on said screw shaft engaging said operating member, an electric motor, a driving connection between said electric motor and said screw shaft comprising a shaft member and a tubular member, a connection between one of said members and said motor, a connection between the other of said members and said screw shaft, a helical spring having a portion encircling said shaft member and a portion inside said tubular member so that forward or reverse rotation of said motor tends to wind or unwind said spring to provide a predetermined limiting torque for said motor, and switch'- ing means for controlling said motor for forward or reverse rotation for operation of the reciprocating loading member.

10. A reloader for an automatic gun provided with a reciprocating loading member said reloader comprising a tubular reciprocating operating member arranged toy be connected to thev reciprocating loadingV member, a screw shaft extending through said reciprocating oper-- ating member, a traveling nut on said screw shaft engaging said operating member, an electric motor, a driving connection between said electric motor and said screwv shaft comprising a shaft member connected to'said motor' and a tubular member surrounding said shaft member connected to said screw shaft, a helical spring having a-l portion encircling said-shaft member and a portion inside said tubular member so that forward or reverse rotation of said motor tends to wind or unwind said spring to provide a predetermined limiting torque for said motor, and switching means for controlling said motor for forward or. reverse rotation for operation of the reciprocat ing loading member.

References Cited in the-le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,159,225 Phelps et al May 23, 1939 2,267,524 Hawkins Dec. 23, 1941 2,380,662 Means July 31, 1945. 2,413,416 Ostlund et al'. Dec. 31, 1946 

